Films & Schedules
- LEBANON

GRANDMA, A THOUSAND TIMES

DIRECTOR: Mahmoud Kaabour - LEBANON

Grandma, A Thousand Times is filmmaker Mahmoud Kaabour’s poetic cinematic tribute to his feisty, larger-than-life grandmother. Teta Kaabour is an 83-year-old family matriarch and sharp-witted queen bee of an old Beiruti quarter. In the apartment where she raised six children and 13 grandchildren, she now spends her days smoking Argileh and drinking endless cups of coffee, alone with memories of her beloved violinist husband (who’s been dead for 20 years). Bearing his grandfather’s name as well as his likeness, the filmmaker is clearly his grandmother’s favorite. This affection allows for an intimate portrait comprised of recollections, revelations of closely guarded...

Grandma, A Thousand Times is filmmaker Mahmoud Kaabour’s poetic cinematic tribute to his feisty, larger-than-life grandmother. Teta Kaabour is an 83-year-old family matriarch and sharp-witted queen bee of an old Beiruti quarter. In the apartment where she raised six children and 13 grandchildren, she now spends her days smoking Argileh and drinking endless cups of coffee, alone with memories of her beloved violinist husband (who’s been dead for 20 years). Bearing his grandfather’s name as well as his likeness, the filmmaker is clearly his grandmother’s favorite. This affection allows for an intimate portrait comprised of recollections, revelations of closely guarded recipes, and hilarious family observations. Touching without being sentimental, this lyrical study is a testament to the importance of preserving personal histories destined to pass with the people who have lived them. (48 mins.)

WHERE DO WE GO NOW?

DIRECTOR: Nadine Labaki - LEBANON

In a remote Lebanese village, Christians and Muslims have lived together all their lives, largely in peace despite occasional flare-ups precipitated by external forces. Although semi-isolated from the outside world, landmines nevertheless surround the countryside and intermittent television reception makes all aware of the religious conflicts that grip the country. To combat their edgy men from absorbing outside tension and localizing violence, the women are constantly inventive in creating distractions—everything from importing Ukrainian showgirls to baking hash cookies to keep everyone mellow. But when there is a death from crossfire outside the village, it is time for stronger measures. Labaki’s...

In a remote Lebanese village, Christians and Muslims have lived together all their lives, largely in peace despite occasional flare-ups precipitated by external forces. Although semi-isolated from the outside world, landmines nevertheless surround the countryside and intermittent television reception makes all aware of the religious conflicts that grip the country. To combat their edgy men from absorbing outside tension and localizing violence, the women are constantly inventive in creating distractions—everything from importing Ukrainian showgirls to baking hash cookies to keep everyone mellow. But when there is a death from crossfire outside the village, it is time for stronger measures. Labaki’s warm, charming story of female solidarity and good sense, broad and uplifting, won the People’s Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and is this year’s Lebanese submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. (100 mins.)